Live Blog: Thursday’s city council meetings (March 12)

This is a live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, March 12. It’s not the official minutes.

Both meetings are being broadcast live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and can also be watched online. An archive of previous council meetings is available on the website.

5:38 p.m.

The workshop has started.

6:06 p.m.

P&Z Commission Plan of Work

The council met jointly with the Planning & Zoning Commission and discussed its plan of work for 2015, which includes implementation of adopted master, neighborhood, district, and corridor plans, as well as general items and tasks identified in the Five-Year Comprehensive Plan Report.

6:33 p.m.

Consent Agenda Discussion

The council will vote on items listed on the consent agenda during tonight’s regular meeting. These consent items were pulled for workshop discussion:

• Parking Removal on Royder Road/Greens Prairie Trail: In August, citizens and the principal of Greens Prairie Elementary contacted the city about the loading and unloading of students along Greens Prairie Trail and Royder Road. Primary concerns were students and parents opening car doors into traffic lanes, and pedestrians having to walk in the roadway because of cars parked along the shoulder. Based on the need for pedestrian safety and efficient traffic operations, the traffic management team recommends approval.
• 2016 Presidential/Vice Presidential Debate: Texas A&M is filing an application to host a 2016 presidential or vice presidential debate, which would shine a worldwide spotlight on College Station and attract thousands of journalists and others. Support from local communities is a key factor in determining where the debates will take place.

7:19 p.m. 

Safety City

The council heard a presentation from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service about proposed plans for a Safety City, an interactive, kid-sized model city that would provide safety education for children. The facility could possibly be located on city-owned property near Central Park on the State Highway 6 frontage road.

Here are the PowerPoint presentations received by the council:

7:19 p.m.

The council is taking a short break.

 7:26  p.m.

The workshop has resumed.

7:28 p.m.

After the council discussed its calendar, future agenda items and committee reports, the workshop meeting was adjourned. 

7:28 p.m.

The regular meeting has started.

7:32 p.m.

Hear Visitors

One person spoke during Hear Visitors, when citizens may address the council on any item that doesn’t appear on the posted agenda. Ben Roper recognized Army Master Sgt. James Curtis Coons as part of the Fallen Heroes Memorial program. The 35-year-old Conroe native died at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. on July 4, 2003 after serving in Kuwait. 

7:33 p.m.

Consent Agenda

The council unanimously approved the entire consent agenda:

• Authorized city staff to negotiate for the purchase of easements needed for the Southland Street Drainage Project.
• Removed stopping, standing and parking along Greens Prairie Trail and Royder Road.
• Prohibited u-turns for northbound, southbound and westbound traffic at the intersection of FM 2818 and Holleman Drive.
• A $77,546.21 contract with Vox Construction for sidewalk improvements on the west side of Texas Avenue between Hensel and Cooner streets.
• A change order of $52,875.12 to a contract with Dudley Construction for the Veterans Park Synthetic Fields Project.
• An inter-local agreement with the City of North Richland Hills for cooperative purchasing.
• A revised inter-local agreement with Texas A&M University for cooperative purchasing.
• A resolution supporting a proposal by Texas A&M University to play host to a 2016 presidential or vice presidential debate.
• A data use agreement with Texas Department of State Health Services for access to confidential information

 7:36 p.m.

Wellborn Area Commercial Signs

After a public hearing, the council unanimously voted to allow attached commercial signs on existing structures in the Wellborn area without the property owner having to seek rezoning.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

8:00 p.m.

Annexation Public Hearing

After receiving an overview of the proposed annexation service plan, the council conducted the second and final public hearing prior to initiating annexation proceedings for about 233 acres in an area generally bordered by Royder Road, Wellborn Road and Greens Prairie Trail. Two citizens spoke during the hearing.

In November, the council granted a landowner’s request to annex about 70 acres and expressed an interest in annexing additional properties in the vicinity. Council will make a decision on the annexation on April 6.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

8:30 p.m.

MUD Development Agreement

The council unanimously approved a development agreement associated with Brazos County Municipal Utility District No. 1. The agreement extends the city’s planning authority over the property, which is expected to be developed into a master-planned community. The property is the current site of the Texas World Speedway.

Here is the PowerPoint presentation received by the council:

8:31 p.m.

Biocorridor Board Appointment

The council unanimously named Barry Moore, Jim Ross and Councilman Steve Aldrich to the Biocorridor board of directors.

8:31 p.m.

The meeting has been adjourned. The council meets again March 26.